Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has said that his players must keep their faith if they are to avoid relegation this season.

The Eagles are 16th in the Premier League table but remain just two points outside the dropzone, with a tie against Liverpool to come on Saturday.

Hodgson admitted to reporters that he is "nervous" ahead of his side's remaining fixtures, but added that he must have hope for his charges for them to remain in the top flight.

"I can't deny the fact that these are going to be unbelievably nervous and worrying times we have ahead," the manager said. "But I have just got to hope and believe that the players will keep faith in themselves and keep believing in themselves.

"That, half the time, is the problem because they don't necessarily lose faith with you or your coaching staff. They know the work we do out there is the sort of work they need to do.

"So they are not going to turn on you, but the problem is that when things start to go badly, are they going to keep faith in themselves? Are they going to keep running for each other? Are they going to keep making up for each other's mistakes, or is the time going to come when they start looking at each and being upset?"

Palace play the likes of Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Bromwich Albion in their remaining games this season.